EN 
IT 
Italy is a country that offers many landscapes, different from each other but all to be experienced, savored and enjoyed to the full.
In this regard, nothing gives us the opportunity to enjoy moments of pure relaxation, immersed in nature and suggestive views, more than a beautiful ride.
An ideal solution for the development of new cycle routes is to exploit the routes and infrastructures already present such as, for example, the waterways.
In the most advanced nations it is not uncommon to come across cycle paths created from routes that run alongside canals and rivers; in France, for example, there are beautiful cycle paths that run along the Rhine, the Loire and the network of canals that connect them.
In these days ANBI – National Association of Land Reclamation and Irrigation Bodies, FIAB – Italian Environment and Bicycle Federation, CIREM – Inter-university Center for Economic Research and Mobility of the University of Cagliari e Polytechnic of Turin – Department of Architecture and Design, have signed an agreement for the development of initiatives and research programs for the study of the relationships between the national network of waterways and the network of regional and national cycle routes, with particular reference to the harmonization of rules governing their safe management.
In our country, law n.2/2018 “Provisions for the development of bicycle mobility” envisaged the recovery for cycling purposes, for public use, of the roads along the banks of rivers, streams, lakes and canals, including reclamation works, aqueducts, energy networks, sewer pipes, abandoned bridges and other structures roads.
In recent years, in the redevelopment and development works of infrastructures and routes dedicated to cycle tourism, itineraries along waterways, major points of interest in terms of nature and landscape, have been increasingly favored.
Many are already present, such as the new cycle path that runs along Lake Garda or the Romea cycle path, while others are under construction, such as the VenTo cycle path that will connect Venice to Turin.
In Italy there is an enormous infrastructural heritage represented by irrigation and reclamation canals, it is estimated approximately 200,000 kilometers development, managed by reclamation consortia which provide for their maintenance and management.
There is certainly no shortage of difficulties related to the use of this important resource.
First of all, the landscape conformation which adds to the bureaucratic difficulties and problems linked to the difficult relationship between those who work in the fields close to the waterways and those who would instead like to use those same territories for tourism and culture.
With the signing of the agreement, the bodies and associations committed themselves to defining the conditions for a national regulatory framework which, overcoming the current difficulties, facilitates the development of a national cycle network and the sustainable tourism linked to it, in harmony with those who carry out a work activity near watercourses.
We thank FIAB – Italian Environment and Bicycle Federation – www.fiabitalia.it – for the valuable data provided